CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman says "controlled chaos" is the best way to describe how he'll feel when he takes the field on Sunday at Jacksonville.

You can't blame him. The fourth-year player out of Coastal Carolina hasn't started an opener since his rookie season in 2012.

Perhaps the best way to describe Carolina's secondary heading into last season's opener is chaotic.

Three of the four defensive backs that started at Tampa Bay aren't on the roster. Roman Harper, the only remaining starter from that game has, moved from strong to free safety.

Despite all the turnover, the secondary is a big reason the defense could be better than a year ago when it finished 10th in the NFL.

"I really feel we're light years ahead of where we were at this point last year," linebacker Thomas Davis said.

Carolina won in spite of the secondary the last two seasons. The stage is set in 2015 for it to win because of the secondary.

The addition of cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman and safety Kurt Coleman have been big. Tillman gives Carolina experience opposite Norman, who became the starter midway through last season and proved to be as close as the Panthers had to a shutdown corner.

Coleman allowed Carolina to move 32-year-old Harper to free safety. He also brought an attitude to the secondary that was lacking much of last season with his aggressive, hard-hitting style.

Coach Ron Rivera admittedly has more confidence in this group than the one he started with last season.

"There's not as many questions as he had last year going into the season," Rivera said.

Rivera remains anxious about where the pass rush will come from. The Panthers went from first in the NFL in sacks in 2013 with 60 to the middle of the pack with 40.

They were without three of their top four defensive linemen throughout most of the preseason, with starting tackle Star Lotulelei (foot) remaining doubtful.

End Charles Johnson and tackle Kawann Short appear ready to return.

That replacements such as defensive tackle Kyle Love and end Wes Horton played well in the final two preseason games was encouraging.

"It definitely helped get our confidence, knowing that we can go out there and still play at a high level without having our best guys up front," Davis said. "And it builds confidence for our younger guys who got an opportunity to play."

Most of the confidence that this defense will be better comes from the secondary, something nobody would have said a year ago.

"Definitely, from the outside looking in, I can see the big question marks about that," said nickel back Bené Benwikere, the one constant from last season's opener. "When there was communication we played well. That's what we have more this year than last year."

Norman agreed.

"We just bring everything from the back of the secondary up to the front," he said. "We bring a lot more to the table than we did in the past."